Mission Statement: The mission of the Depression Specialty Clinic at UMMMC is to provide excellence in consultative clinical care for individuals with depression and provide a platform for training of UMMMC faculty, staff and trainees.

How to schedule a consultation at the Depression Specialty Clinic: Any prescribing physician may call the Consultation phone line (508.334.0366) to answer a few questions regarding past depression treatments and the question for consultation. All patients must have a prescribing physician (e.g. primary care provider or psychiatrist) who can coordinate their care with the consultative Clinic team as follow-up care is not provided. Patients may initiate the consultation, but their treating physician must authorize the consultation.

Consultations consist of a psychiatric evaluation with a senior Psychiatry Resident or Fellow supervised by a UMass faculty psychiatrist. Recommendations are discussed with the patient during the consultation and the patient’s referring physician through a written report.

Education services provided: The Depression Specialty Clinic, as part of the Department of Psychiatry at UMass Medical School, encourages adult psychiatry residents and psychology interns to evaluate patients under faculty supervision as part of their postgraduate training. The PGY-IV Chief Resident in Psychopharmacology will complete part of their required training under faculty supervision in this Clinic and patients of the clinic are evaluated by senior psychiatry residents under the supervision of DSC faculty psychiatrists.

Research services provided: Our clinical consultation is complemented by several ongoing research studies at the UMass Medical Center for Psychopharmacologic Research and Treatment, directed by Dr. Anthony J. Rothschild. These research studies investigate the course and treatment of depressive disorders in adults. Interested patients will have the opportunity to participate in research studies that offer treatments not yet available in general clinical practice including investigational antidepressants.